Our Michigan nursing home neglect attorneys are experts at investigating cases involving elopement from a nursing home. Elopement occurs when a resident leaves the nursing home without authorization or appropriate supervision. Elopement, no matter which type, is dangerous and even deadly at times. When a patient wanders from a nursing home and is injured or dies, it can give rise to a claim for nursing home neglect against that Michigan nursing home.

Types of Elopement From Nursing Home

Elopement can be divided into several different classifications. Below are a few common classifications:

Wandering

Environmentally cued wandering

Reminiscent/fantasy wandering

Tactile wandering

Recreational Wandering

Agitated purposeful wandering

Who Is At Risk For Elopement From Nursing Homes?

Some patients should be classified as “chronic” wanderers, because they have successfully wandered away from the nursing home several times. “Chronic” wanderers should be given special supervision from the nursing home staff. In fact, Michigan nursing homes should run proper assessments of each and every resident to classify who is at risk to elope from the facility.

A recent review of nursing home elopement claims found that “80% of elopement cases involved residents described as “chronic” wanderers. When proper precautions are not taken by the nursing home, it can result in severe injuries and even death of a patient.

Preventing Resident Elopement in Michigan Nursing Homes

There are many preventative measures a Michigan nursing home can take to prevent patients from wandering away. These preventative measures include:

Provide an adequate number of staff to supervise residents.

Screen patients at the time of admission to assure the facility is capable of caring for them.

Train staff on how to identify patients who may elope — and how to re-direct them.

Use window and door alarms.

Have contingency plans in place to locate missing patients.

Legal Rights After Resident Elopement in Michigan Nursing Home

Our experienced Michigan nursing home lawyers represent residents and their families in lawsuits involving wandering and elopement. A patient who wanders or elopes from a facility due to improper security or under qualified staff is a victim of nursing home neglect. One who suffers unnecessary sedation or restraint, or threats from staff is a victim of nursing home neglect. In either case, facilities not held responsible for their dangerous choices will continue to harm elderly patients until they are legally accountable. These lawsuits seek compensation for the resident and the family for the injuries suffered. They also serve to prevent such a tragedy from happening to another resident in the future. When a resident dies from their elopement, we file a Michigan Wrongful Death lawsuit on behalf of the surviving family members.

Our No Fee Promise for Michigan Nursing Home Patient Elopement Cases

We will represent you in your Michigan nursing home neglect case under our NO FEE PROMISE. This means that you will not be charged any legal fees whatsoever unless we obtain a settlement or recovery for you. You have absolutely no obligation for legal fees unless we win your case. If we do not obtain a settlement for you, you owe us nothing!

Contact Your Michigan Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer

If a loved one has eloped from a Michigan nursing home, call our office now at (800) 606-1717 to speak with one of our experienced nursing home neglect lawyers. We will start will start working on your case immediately and gather the necessary evidence to prove and win your case. We will also get you the real answers as to what happened and how it happened.

We have a top track record of successful settlements and verdicts in nursing home neglect elopement cases in Michigan and we can do the same for you. Call today for your free consultation!

We are Michigan nursing home lawyers who represent neglect and abuse residents in in Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Bay City, Dearborn, Detroit, East Lansing, Flint, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Midland, Monroe, Mount Clements, Muskegon, Novi, Pontiac, Port Huron, Royal Oak, Saginaw, St. Clair Shores, Southfield, Sterling Heights, Taylor, Troy, Utica, Warren, Ypsilanti, ,Allegan County, Bay County, Calhoun County, Cass County, Eaton County, Genesee County, Huron County, Ingham County, Jackson County, Kalamazoo County, Kent County, Lapeer County, Lenawee County, Livingston County, Macomb County, Muskegon County, Monroe County, Oakland County, Shiawassee County, St. Clair County, Washtenaw County, Wayne County, Wexford County and all Michigan cities and counties.